Road-working machine.



N. S. MONRQE.

ROAD WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.19, 1913 1,173,014. Patented-Feb.22,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

152 vazzar N. S. MONROE.

ROAD WORKING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED 05c. 19., 19.11.

r m w w ,r 6 2n 9 5 mm M M n m 9 m NATHANIEL S. MONROE, OF ARTHUR, ILLINOIS.

ROAD-WORKING MACHINE.

Application filed December 19, 1913.

1 b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NATHANIEL S. MON- ROE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arthur, in the county of Douglas and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-\Vorking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to road working machines of that class which are known as graders and levelers, and it has particular reference to a machine embodying as constituent elements thereof a pair of forwardly divergent rearwardly convergent scraper elements, as for example, in a copending application filed by me on February 5, 1913, Serial No. 746,490, and also in previous patents granted to me, such as, for instance, Patent No. 525,426, dated September 4, 1894.

The principal object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the scraper elements, which term as used in the present case is intended to designate broadly the forwardly diverging ground engaging elements irrespective of the fact that at times said elements may be used and are intended to be used for the purpose of smoothing, leveling and compacting, rather than scraping or digging into the surface of the ground that is operated upon. Broadly speaking, this part of the invention consists in the construction of a scraper element comprising two bars of substantially equal length and of any cross section suitable for the purpose in view, said bars being hingedly connected together along one edge, one of said bars constituting a scraper bar which may be equipped with a cutting member adapted to dig into the ground, while the other bar constitutes what 1 term a heel bar; means being provided whereby the scraper bar and the heel bar may be adjusted to and sustained at various angles with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is to produce means with which the aforesaid scraper elements may be connected for the attachment of draft, whereby they may be drawn over the ground when in active operation and also for transportation, said means including means whereby the parts of the scraper elements may be sustained with the cutting element in position for operation, and alsoin a position where the scraper bar with the cutter is sustained clear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 807,650.

of the ground, the heel bar being tilted to an angle which causes it to engage the surface of the ground with a smoothing and trowel-like action which is effective for smoothing the surface of the ground subsequent to the scraping operation or at any time when the use of the cutting edge is not required and which also enables the scraper elements to ride over the ground when the machine is to be transported from place to place.

A still further object of the invention is to produce simple and effective means whereby the angle between the scraper elements may be varied and whereby the said scraper elements may be sustained at proper adjustments.

lVith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, showing one form of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and showing the cutter bar of one of the scraper elements in ground engaging position. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the scraper bar with the cutting element in nonengaging position with respect to the ground, the heel bar being tilted to ground engaging position. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view, showing in section a portion of one side of the frame with a sleeve slidably engaging the same for the attachment of one of the link bars or spreader bars. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing a portion of one of the side members of the frame and illustrating a modified construction. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Flg. 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view showing one of the link bars employed under the construction shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a further modification in the construction of the link bar. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a link bar illustrating a further modification. Fig. 11 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 1111 in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view illustrating a further modification. Fig. 13 is a perspective detail view illustrating a still further modification of the link bar. Fig. 1 1 is a detail side view of the device shown in Fig. 13. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views showing a further modified construction of the link bar. Fig. 17 is a transverse section taken on the line 1717 in Fig. 1. Fig. 18 is a detail plan view of a portion of the forward end of the machine showing a slight de arture from the construction shown in Fig. Fi 19 is a detail view, enlarged, of the adjusting link.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The machine in its present form includes a frame comprising forwardly convergent side bars 15 which are connected at intervals by cross bars 16, said frame being supported on ground wheels 17 These parts may be of any desired and appropriate constrnction; for considerations of strength, lightness and durability, the side bars of the frame have been shown as consisting of channel bars, as best seen in Fig. 4.

Under the construction of the machine as seen in Figs. 1 to l, inclusive, there is mounted on the forward end of each channel bar a longitudinally slidable sleeve or clip 18 having flanges 19 that are lapped about the flanges of the respective channel bars, said sleeve or clip being provided with suitable means, such as set screws 20, whereby it may be secured in position at various adjustments. Said sleeve or clip is also provided with laterally extending apertured lugs 21. adapted to receive between them one end of a member 22 which for convenience will be designated asa link bar, but which might with equal propriety be described as a draw bar or as a spreader. This mem her, which under the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has been illustrated as being made of angle steel, affords a means of connection between the slidable sleeve or clip 18 and the scraper element.

Two scraper elements are used, one at each side of the machine, said scraper elements being pivotally connected with a bar or spacing member S and disposed in such fashion as to diverge forwardly. For successful operation, one scraper element should project rearwardly of its mate, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, but this feature is well known in the art, being shown in my patent dated September 4, 1894. Each scraper element comprises two separate and distinct members, namely, a scraper bar 23 and a heel bar 2 1. These scraper members may be constructed of structural steel of any desired dimensions and of any appropriate cross section, and 1 desire it to bedistinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the specific construction of these members shown in the accompanying drawings, where for purposes of illustration only the scraper bar 23 has been illustrated as a channel bar, while the heel bar has been illustrated as an angle bar. The scraper bar is equipped with a cutting member 25 for directly engaging the surface of the ground. This cutting member or blade may be integral with the cutter bar, or it may be mounted thereon in any convenient manner. The scraper bar and the heel bar are connected together by hinge members 26 of convenient construction. Connected wit-h the heel bar and ex tending upwardly therefrom is a lever member which consists of a ratchet bar 27 having a handle 28, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated. Associated with the scraper bar 23 is a dog 29 which is adapted to engage any one of the notches in the ratchet bar 27, when the heel bar is tilted with respect tothe scraper bar for the purpose of varying the angle therebetween. This tilted po-- sition has been shown in Fig. 3; the nontilted' position appears in Fig. 2. The dog 29 may be inherently resilient to enable the desired adjustment to be effected, or it may be jointedly connected with the scraper bar.

It will be evident that when the scraper bar is pivotally connected with the lower end of one of the link members 22, and the heel bar is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 3, the scraper bar will be sustained in an elevated position with respect to the ground by the joint action of the heel bar and the link bar, whereby it is connected with the frame structure.

The scraper elements are connected with the frame near their rear ends by means of flexible elements, such as chains 30 and 31, which are provided with an adjusting link 32 so that various adjustments, laterally, with respect to the frame may be effected, as may be seen in dotted lines in Fig. 17.

Supported in convenient positions upon or adjacent to the front end of the frame structure are drum shafts 33 having hand wheels 34. whereby they may be operated, said drum shafts being connected with the slidable members 18 by flexible elements, such as chains 35. It is evident that by pulling the sleeves in a forward direction, the scraper elements may be collapsed, that is to say. their forward ends may be moved toward each other, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1. V

Inplace of mounting the slidable sleeves or members 18 direct on the frame members 15, the latter, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, may be provided with brackets 36 supporting a rod or tube 37 on which a slidable sleeve, here designated by 38, may be mounted, said sleeve being connected with the upper end of one of the link bars 22, and said sleeve having a set screw 39, whereby it may be secured in adjusted position.

Under the modified construction of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings the slidable sleeve or element mounted on or adjacent to the frame bar is dispensed with, and in place thereof the link bar, which is now connected pivotally with the lugs extending from the frame bar, is made extensible in order that the proper adjustments may be effected. In Fig. 7 the frame bar 15 is provided near its front end with one or more lugs 410 which may be connected therewith in any convenient manner for the attachment of one end of the link bar B. This link bar, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, may be formed of two sections 11, 4.2 of angle steel having slots 43 for the passage of connecting members, such as bolts 4 1, whereby the said members maybe adjustably connected together, one end of the compound link bar being connected with the lugs 40, and the other end with the scraper bar of the proximate scraper element. In Fig. 9 the link bar has been shown as composed of two channel bars 45, 46, one telescoping within the other, and a spring actuated catch 47 being provided to engage one of a plurality of apertures t8 in one channel bar through an aperture 49 in the other channel bar to maintain them in adjusted position. Figs. 10 and 11 show a link bar composed of two tubular members 50, 51, the former telescoping within the latter where it may be secured at various adjustments by a set screw 52. The construction shown in Fig. 12 resembles that shown in Figs. 10 and 11, with the exception that a spring actuated catch 53 is utilized for assembling the parts at various adjustments. The construction in Figs. 13 and 14 resembles that shown in Fig. 8, with the exception that in place of the bolt members 44L for assembling the parts adjustably, the angle bars, here designated by 5.4 and 55. and which have slots 56, 57, are assembled together by means of rivet members 58. One of the angle bars is provided with a plurality of notches 5.9, one of which may be engaged by a spring actuated catch member 60 pivoted on the other angle bar. YVhere spring actuated catches are used, pull cords or members 61 may be utilized for the purpose of actuating the same.

a In any of the constructions involving the use of the extensible and collapsible link bars, said link bars, may be collapsed by means including drum shafts 62 mounted on or adjacent to the front end of the frame structure, each having a hand wheel 63 whereby it may be rotated and each c0nnested by a flex bl element, s h a a h in 64, with the outermost or distant member of the link bar. It is obvious that the flexible element may be connected with the dis tant member of the link bar at any con venient point; in Fig. 7 the connection has been shown as being effected adjacent to the outer end of the member 41, while in Fig. 18 the connection is effected near the inner end of said member l1, but it is obvious that the connection may be made at any convenient intermediate point. It will thus be seen that when the parts are properly assembled with the scraper elements and the latter are diverged forwardly for the operation, the

said scraper elements may be collapsed, that is to say, their forward ends may be moved toward each other by winding the flexible elements (is on the respective drum shafts, the fastening means connecting the members of the link bars together having been pre viously manipulated so as to permit the link bar to be collapsed. It is also obvious that the scraper elements may be moved independently of each other, thus permitting one scraper element to be placed at an angle to the central medial line of the machine exceeding the angle at which the other scraper element is placed with respect to said line.

In Figs. 15 and 16 there has been shown a further modified construction of the link bar under which the component parts or members of the same are capable of being adjusted to vary the length of the link bar withoutnecessity of resorting to the use of the flexible winding element and the drum previously herein described. Under this modification the inner and outer members of the link bar, here designated, respectively, by and 71, are slidably connected together, and one of said elements 71 is provided with ratchet teeth 72 adapted to be engaged by a pawl or dog 73 mounted pivotally on a lever 7% which is associated with the other member 70 of the link bar. The dog 73 is preferably actuated by a spring 7 whereby it will be held in engagement with the ratchet teeth 72, and locking means, such as a spring actuated catch 76, engaging a notched quadrant 77 may be utilized for the purpose of retaining the parts in adjusted position. It will be readilv seen how by this arrangement the winding elements and the flexible connecting elements may be dispensed with.

It will be not-iced that no specific means have been shown for retaining the link members 70 and 71 in adjusted position when the pawl 73 is disengaged. lVhile such retaining means might obviously be provided it is not deemed necessary because owing to the nature of the device the machine would invariably be stationary while the link bars are being sharpened by the pawl and ratchet means described; hence there would be no strain in a direction opposite to that caused by the pawl while the adjustment is being effected, and the friction between the parts would be all that is needed to render the operation successful. The pawl and ratchet mechanism illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 should be understood as being merely a substitute for the drum shafts and flexible elements for varying the lengths of the link bars, as shown in Fig. 7

In order to spread apart the forward ends of the scraper elements in the forms of the invention including the flexible connecting elements and the drum shafts, it is only necessary to slacken the flexible elements and to draw the frame of the machine forward, when,by engagement with the ground, the spreader elements will become expanded or diverged forwardly, it being obvious that the slidable parts must have previously been set free to permit such movement to take place. It is also obvious that by securing the slidable elements as have been provided for the purpose, the scraper elements may be sustained for operation at various angles with respect to each other. The drum shafts are, moreover, equipped with pawl and ratchet means of conventional form whereby reverse rotation is prevented. When the drum shafts and the flexible elements are dispensed with, the same result may be obtained by simply temporarily releasing the dogs 73 from the ratchet teeth 72.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is 1-- 1. In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar hingedly connected together, supporting means whereby the scraper .bar is carried and supported against tilting, and means for tilting the heel bar with respect to the scraper bar to lift the latter clear of the ground and for supporting it in a raised position; said heel bar being rigid throughout so as to present an inclined plane with respect to the ground when tilted to support the scraper bar in a raised position.

2. In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar hingedly connected together, said scraper bar and heel bar being practically coextensive, said heel bar having a flat ground engaging face constituting a trowel member, supporting means whereby the scraper bar is supported against tilting, and means for tilting the heel bar with respect to the scraper bar to lift the latter clear of the ground and for supporting it in a raised position.

In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar, substantially coextensive, said bars being hingedly connected together, and said heel bar having a fiat ground engaging face constituting a trowel member, in combination with a supporting member with which the scraper bar is rigidly connected, and means for varying the angular relation between the heel bar and the scraper bar and for sustaining said bars rigidly at various adjustments whereby the scraper bar may be supported by the heel bar clear of the ground.

4:. In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar, substantially coextensive, said bars being hingedly connected together, and said heel bar having a fiat ground engaging face constituting a trowel member, a supporting member with which the scraper bar is rigidly connected, and means whereby the heel bar may be rocked or tailed to lift the scraper bar clear of the ground and for sustaining the bars in such relative positions.

5. In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar of substantially equal length hingedly connected together, said scraper bar having a ground engaging cutting blade, a tilting lever associated with the heel bar, and a dog associated with the scraper bar and adapted to engage the tilting lever to maintain the parts at various adjustments.

6. In a device of the class described, a scraper element comprising a scraper bar and a heel bar of substantially equal length hingedly connected together, means for tilting said bars and for sustaining them at various angles with respect to each other, and means auxiliary to the tilting means for supporting the scraper bar entirely clear of the ground, the heel bar thus constituting a trowel or smoothing member extending substantially the length of the scraper element.

7. In a device of the class described, a'

scraper element comprising a scraper bar having a ground engaging cutting blade and a heel bar of substantially equal length, said bars being hingedly connected together, a ratchet toothed tilting lever associated with the heel bar, a dog associated with the scraper bar to engage the toothed lever, a wheeled frame, and a link bar connecting the scraper bar with the frame to assist in sustaining said scraper bar clear of the ground at certain adjustments of the tilting device.

" 8. In a device of the class described, a wheeled frame, a pair of scraper elements,

flexible means connecting said scraper elements together near their rearward ends, permitting the forward ends to diverge at various angles, link bars connected pivotally at their forward ends with the frame and at their rearward ends with the scraper elements to permit the forward ends of the scraper elements to be spread and collapsed, said links composed each of telescoping sections whereby the length of said links may be varied, means for securing the telescoping sections of each link together at various adjustments, and means whereby the rearward section of each link may be moved forwardly.

9. In a device of the class described, a wheeled frame, a pair of scraper elements, flexible means connecting said scraper elements together near their rearward ends, permitting the forward ends to diverge at various angles, link bars connected pivotally at their forward ends with the frame and at their rearward ends with the scraper ele ments to permit the forward ends of the scraper elements to be spread and collapsed,

said links composed each of telescoping sections whereby the length of said links may be varied, means for securing the telescoping sections of each link together at various adjustments, and means whereby the rearward section of each link may be moved forwardly, said means including drum shafts and flexible elements winding on said drum shafts and connected with the rearward sections of the links.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL S. MONROE. Witnesses:

H. Honcn, WM. BAGGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

